Kristin Bauer

Kristin Bauer van Straten was born Kristin Neubauer in Racine, Wisconsin. She spent her childhood engaging with nature and animals. Her interest in the arts, specifically drawing and painting, emerged in junior high. After high school, she completed three years of art school studies at institutions including Washington University in St. Louis, Boston, and Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. She later pursued an acting career and relocated to Los Angeles, where she continues to reside with her rescued animals. Alongside her acting, she maintains her artistic endeavors in drawing and painting, including commissioned portraits.

Her acting career began in 1994. In 1995, she secured a regular role as Maggie Reynolds in the FOX comedy “The Crew.” A notable guest appearance occurred in 1996 as Gillian, known as “Man Hands,” in an episode of “Seinfeld.” She also held recurring roles in series such as “Total Security” as Geneva Renault, “That’s Life” as Candy Cooper, and “Hidden Hills” as Belinda Slypich. In film, she played Kelly in “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” (1997) and a female firefighter in “50 First Dates” (2004). Her voice acting work includes the character Mera in the animated series “Justice League.”

From 2008 to 2014, Bauer van Straten was prominent as the vampire Pamela Swynford De Beaufort in the HBO fantasy drama series “True Blood,” a role that transitioned from recurring to series regular in 2009. Following this, she took on the role of Maleficent in ABC’s fantasy series “Once Upon a Time” from 2011 to 2015. Beyond her acting, she is actively involved in conservation, supporting organizations such as IFAW, The Amanda Foundation, Oceana, and PCRM. She works to raise awareness for animal welfare, promote adoption of shelter animals, and advocate for sustainable and eco-friendly living.